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Author Topic: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?  (Read 982 times)

Frans Waterlander

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What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« on: March 29, 2021, 02:40:55 pm »

It looks to me that Nikon is giving up on entry-level DSLRs. The D3500 and D5600 are listed as basically obsolete in Japan and Nikon's explanations are not very promising for the rest of the world. No replacements for those are in the pipeline as far as i can tell.
The D7500 at around US$1000 would become the lowest cost Nikon DSLR and it has some "interesting" characteristics, like a 21MP sensor, a step down from the 24MP D7200, now obsolete.
Are they really abandoning the entry-level DSLR business in favor of mirrorless? And their mirrorless cameras are price-wise not entry-level either.
My D70 is 14 years old and I don't think it will last much longer. Then what? Mirrorless is a no-no for me. First, the sensor will heat up while the camera is on and noise will increase/DR decrease as a result. I know, I know - "everybody" claims that that's not noticeable, but the laws of physics are what they are. Also note that no-one, neither camera manufacturers, nor reviewers, nor test houses publish noise/DR test results for mirrorless cameras as they heat up. I asked DxO and a German test house and they acknowledged the issue of the sensors heating up, but then immediately told me the don't test for that. Hmmmmm.
Second, I don't like the reports of issues with EVFs like lag, nausea, etc.
So, what am I going to do? What are you,going to do, what have you done?
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mcbroomf

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Re: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2021, 06:19:37 am »

It's between Nikon and you what you choose (and I agree that I think the writing's on the wall for DSLRs, other than the high end models perhaps), or perhaps you and your wallet (changing systems, more expensive body etc).  But a few comments;

You are comparing (in your post) a 14 year old tech camera (with a 6mp CCD sensor) to a much more modern camera using CMOS sensors with over 20mp.  The differences will be vast.

Have you read the DPR review of the D7500?  A number of comments and comparisons between the model you mention and the D500.
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d7500-review-speed-and-capability

Don't worry about the difference between 24mp and 21mp, a 7% linear difference in PPI.  Is that important to you?  I recently downgraded from a 60mp A7R4 to a 50mp A1 and see no noticeable differences.

There is no contradiction between "laws of physics" and unnoticeable DR/noise (and I do have a physics degree).  But if you want to, it's an easy test (which I've done on my Sony mirrorless).  Shoot a high ISO dark frame for 30 secs and continue doing so in continuous mode for 30 mins (or however long you want).  Compare 1st, a few in the middle, and last capture and see if 1) you can tell, and 2) if the differences are important.  Repeat at lower ISO and more meaningful exposure times if you never use 30 sec high ISO.  I've done this for my Sony A7R4 and seen the results compared to the original A7R and an A7R2.  You just have to find someone with the relevant Nikon mirrorless bodies, but you can also do it to compare with your D70.

I walk around with my camera turned on all the time and see no difference in noise.  If you want to compare noise and DR between cameras then I suggest using Bill Claff's excellent Photon to Photo website.
As you can see the D70 is streets behind the D7200/D7500 for dynamic range, a whopping 2.5 stops at base ISO.
https://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm#Nikon%20D70,Nikon%20D7200,Nikon%20D7500

I switched from Canon DSLR (and one Nikon DSLR) to mirrorless a long time ago and could not be more pleased, specifically with the DR and noise.  I've never had a problem with lag or nausea using the EVF and tech gets better every year.

Good luck with your choice wherever it might take you.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2021, 06:24:07 am by mcbroomf »
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digitaldog

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Re: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2021, 09:25:57 am »


More appropriate:
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digitaldog

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Re: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2021, 10:08:49 am »

Quote
There is no contradiction between "laws of physics" and unnoticeable DR/noise (and I do have a physics degree).  But if you want to, it's an easy test (which I've done on my Sony mirrorless).  Shoot a high ISO dark frame for 30 secs and continue doing so in continuous mode for 30 mins (or however long you want).  Compare 1st, a few in the middle, and last capture and see if 1) you can tell, and 2) if the differences are important.  Repeat at lower ISO and more meaningful exposure times if you never use 30 sec high ISO.  I've done this for my Sony A7R4 and seen the results compared to the original A7R and an A7R2.  You just have to find someone with the relevant Nikon mirrorless bodies, but you can also do it to compare with your D70.

Your expertise and experience will fall on deaf ears. Proof of concept:
https://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=134951.msg1171465#msg1171465

I really do not recommend reading them all, rather painful. But I do believe it illustrates a pattern: post about a 'problem', ask for consensus of others to agree the problem exists. Physics science and facts have nothing to do with this push back as you will soon see. 😢
The OP is unwilling or unable to conduct any testing as the paper trail above clearly illustrates.
Or attempt to make a photograph.

« Last Edit: March 31, 2021, 09:31:48 am by digitaldog »
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Martin Kristiansen

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Re: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2021, 02:12:34 pm »

Oh dear, this again.
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Guillermo Luijk

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Re: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2021, 08:03:49 pm »

what am I going to do?
Forget your prejudices with all the heating story.

what have you done?
What I did 10 years ago is to switch to mirrorless for their big advantages over DSLR. I haven't used a DSLR since then.

Regards

Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: What is going on with Nikon and entry-level DSLRs?
« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2021, 06:16:28 am »

Switched to mirrorless two years ago, never looked back. The eye (pupil even)-focus ability is uncanny and alone worth the switch. Ability to preview exposure adjustments in viewfinder also.
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